Older Brother, Older Sister (OBOS) is a mentoring program in which volunteers are empowered and develop competencies for the role of mentors to children at risk between the ages of 6 and 14. The primary goal of the program is for mentors to contribute to the better social inclusion of children who face challenges in growing up into a healthy, socially integrated individuals, while simultaneously working on themselves and developing their capacities. Volunteers, as mentors, support children in developing life skills, become their role models and people they can rely on. Mentorship involves friendship, helping with schoolwork, building positive models of behavior, all through learning, socializing and having fun.
Young people aged 20 to 35 can apply for volunteering in the OBOS program. All registered volunteers undrego an introductory interview, and those who pass the interview participate in mandatory preparatory education. During the cycle, volunteers have group counseling meetings with program coordinators twice a month (if necessary, individual counseling meetings can also be organized). Volunteers socialize with children for eight months, at least 20 hours per month – once a week they organize individual socializing with children (with their “younger” brother or “sister”) in accordance with their wishes and needs. They are provided with pocket money for socializing. For additional socialization, group activities and excursions are organized for all children and volunteers.
In addition to professional support from NARKO-NE, volunteers are accompanied and supported in their work with children by professional associates, social workers, pedagogues and psychologists from the Cantonal Center for Social Work and the Children’s Home. without parental care.
Applications for young people are opened in September every year. The volunteer engagement lasts from October to June. All questions regarding the OBOS program can be sent to e-mail sbss@prevencija.ba
The Association for Addiction Prevention NARKO-NE has been implementing the Older Brother, Older Sister program since 2004, first in cooperation with the Cantonal Center for Social Work, Sarajevo, and since 2010 with the Home for Children Without Parental Care, Sarajevo. From 2023, the Give Us a Chance Association will also be included in the program. The implementation of the program is primarily financially supported by the Old Brother, Older Sister Foundation.
